Planning law is being changed to give councils the power to impose a Community Infrastructure Levy on developers, forcing companies to contribute to the cost of providing facilities for people moving into homes they build.

The levy will replace the old Section 106 legal agreements under which councillors sought to extract cash from developers.

RichardMoore, Tory councillor responsible for planning, said: “The levy is designed to be fairer, faster and more transparent than the previous system.

“We hope it will give us the best chance of securing infrastructure developments to go with housing.”

The new system should give councils greater freedom to decide how they spend cash they get from developers and force companies to agree beforehand how much they will contribute.

Last year, the Echo reported Essex County Council was sitting on more than £1million in unspent Section 106 cash, set aside for highway and school improvements in Basildon.

Under the old system, if this money is not spent soon, some of it may be lost to the borough.

The new system will force councils to outline when and how the cash is spent, making it less likely for to be hived off and lost.

Mr Moore said other changes to the system underlined the importance of councils agreeing a Local Plan strategy document and getting it approved by the Government.

He explained: “If we do not have a robust plan in place we will leave ourselves vulnerable to predatory developers, driven by short-term profit motives, with scant regard for what is in Basildon’s best interest, or in keeping with the character of our towns and villages.”

Jam tomorrow. In this case, a tomorrow that's so far away that most of us will be pensioned off or worse by then.

Jam tomorrow. In this case, a tomorrow that's so far away that most of us will be pensioned off or worse by then.Leon__

Jam tomorrow. In this case, a tomorrow that's so far away that most of us will be pensioned off or worse by then.

Score: 5

Leon__
2:35pm Mon 6 Jan 14

PS 2031 is such an impressively precise forecast, but they could go one or two better and say which month, or even week and the time of day. How about November 2nd, 2031 at 8.12 in the morning? See you all back here in 2031 hopefully to talk about the improvements expected at that time by 2048.

PS 2031 is such an impressively precise forecast, but they could go one or two better and say which month, or even week and the time of day. How about November 2nd, 2031 at 8.12 in the morning? See you all back here in 2031 hopefully to talk about the improvements expected at that time by 2048.Leon__

PS 2031 is such an impressively precise forecast, but they could go one or two better and say which month, or even week and the time of day. How about November 2nd, 2031 at 8.12 in the morning? See you all back here in 2031 hopefully to talk about the improvements expected at that time by 2048.

spot on..... it's just a 'soft soap' for that exact reality, and will be the same in southend borough with councils being forced to approve thousands of new houses over the next few years....

[quote][p][bold]Eric the Red[/bold] wrote:
Read between the lines - massive over-population; loss of acres of green belt; gridlocked A127 and A13.[/p][/quote]spot on..... it's just a 'soft soap' for that exact reality, and will be the same in southend borough with councils being forced to approve thousands of new houses over the next few years....pembury53

spot on..... it's just a 'soft soap' for that exact reality, and will be the same in southend borough with councils being forced to approve thousands of new houses over the next few years....

Section 106 agreements mean a developer will cut corners elsewhere because their projected profit will need to stay the same to satisfy those third parties who are investing in the development. So while they might be contributing to more bus stops, all of the houses they just built will last ten years less as a result.

[quote][p][bold]pembury53[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Eric the Red[/bold] wrote:
Read between the lines - massive over-population; loss of acres of green belt; gridlocked A127 and A13.[/p][/quote]spot on..... it's just a 'soft soap' for that exact reality, and will be the same in southend borough with councils being forced to approve thousands of new houses over the next few years....[/p][/quote]Section 106 agreements mean a developer will cut corners elsewhere because their projected profit will need to stay the same to satisfy those third parties who are investing in the development. So while they might be contributing to more bus stops, all of the houses they just built will last ten years less as a result.Dan_

spot on..... it's just a 'soft soap' for that exact reality, and will be the same in southend borough with councils being forced to approve thousands of new houses over the next few years....

Section 106 agreements mean a developer will cut corners elsewhere because their projected profit will need to stay the same to satisfy those third parties who are investing in the development. So while they might be contributing to more bus stops, all of the houses they just built will last ten years less as a result.

Score: 2

LastLaugh2
5:16pm Mon 6 Jan 14

I See It All wrote…

So grim for the next 17 years then?

Been grim for the LAST 17, me thinks.

[quote][p][bold]I See It All[/bold] wrote:
So grim for the next 17 years then?[/p][/quote]Been grim for the LAST 17, me thinks.LastLaugh2

I See It All wrote…

So grim for the next 17 years then?

Been grim for the LAST 17, me thinks.

Score: 3

Devils Advocate
5:43pm Mon 6 Jan 14

Much like the national government promise today, to look after the countries pensioners by making sure they receive enough pension. Oh, and whilst they are on the way to that, the winter fuel allowance will be stopped, bus passes are to go, etc. etc.
Also, the boom town is really here. The reduced building programme announced for Gloucester Park? They are cutting back by not building the affordable housing. This at the same time as Cameron says their will be a cut back in Council housing, eventually making them a thing of the past.

Do you really think we are not wise to the right-wing "Boom and Bust?"
Simples. We boom, you bust!

Much like the national government promise today, to look after the countries pensioners by making sure they receive enough pension. Oh, and whilst they are on the way to that, the winter fuel allowance will be stopped, bus passes are to go, etc. etc.
Also, the boom town is really here. The reduced building programme announced for Gloucester Park? They are cutting back by not building the affordable housing. This at the same time as Cameron says their will be a cut back in Council housing, eventually making them a thing of the past.
Do you really think we are not wise to the right-wing "Boom and Bust?"
Simples. We boom, you bust!Devils Advocate

Much like the national government promise today, to look after the countries pensioners by making sure they receive enough pension. Oh, and whilst they are on the way to that, the winter fuel allowance will be stopped, bus passes are to go, etc. etc.
Also, the boom town is really here. The reduced building programme announced for Gloucester Park? They are cutting back by not building the affordable housing. This at the same time as Cameron says their will be a cut back in Council housing, eventually making them a thing of the past.

Do you really think we are not wise to the right-wing "Boom and Bust?"
Simples. We boom, you bust!

Score: 1

LastLaugh,,,
7:29pm Mon 6 Jan 14

Basildon will 'pick up' just in time for armageddon...lol.

Basildon will 'pick up' just in time for armageddon...lol.LastLaugh,,,

Ipsoregulated

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